Lens structure

ABSTRACT

A lamp assembly, such as an indicator type, has a main body detachably securable to an associated support, as, for example, an instrument panel of a related vehicle, with such body enabling the easy connection thereto of an associated bulb socket structure as well as a related lens; such body further enabling the removal and replacement of the bulb from either end of the body.

RELATED APPLICATION

This Application is a Division of copending Application Ser. No. 544,773filed Jan. 28, 1975, for "Lamp Assembly", now U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,122.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, in the automotive field, especially with regard to trucks,indicator lamp assemblies are employed as to indicate, by theirrespective energization, that certain selected functions or vehicularoperating parameters are in an unacceptable condition. For example, asin a truck, such indicator lamp assemblies may be operatively connectedto related sender units which are, in turn, responsive to indicia ofengine oil level, engine temperature, loss of engine coolant, generatoror alternator output level, actuation or operation of anti-skidmechanism, air pressure in truck air tanks, headlamp selection (whetherhigh or low beam), or parking brake engagement.

Since trucks represent a comparatively high financial investment andsince the only way that a profitable return of such investment can beassured is to keep such trucks in use for as long as possible with aslittle "down-time" (the time during which the truck is taken out ofproductive use such as, for example, maintenance or inspection) aspossible, great care is taken to prevent operation of a truck when allimportant conditions of such truck are not judged to be up to standardas well as to achieve engine shut-down as quickly as possible after theoccurrence of a related failure. Such may occur merely as, for example,prevention of damage to the engine or as a safety measure as, forexample, a progressive loss of air pressure in a truck employingpneumatically actuated brakes.

The truck industry has, heretofore, employed one or more indicator lampassemblies to thereby create, upon energization thereof, a visual signalto the operator that a particular parameter is experiencing less thansatisfactory conditions thereby enabling the operator or driver to takecorrective action.

Usually a plurality of such indicator lamp assemblies are employed andmounted as on the instrument panel. Further, provision is often made sothat upon the operator turning the ignition key toward the enginecranking or "start" position, all of the electrical circuits leading tothe indicator lamp assemblies are closed thereby causing energization ofthe lamp assemblies. It is at this time that the operator can seewhether all of the lamp assemblies are still functioning or if any bulbreplacement is required.

However, various problems have arisen because of the prior art indicatorlamp assemblies. For example, certain of the prior art indicator lampassemblies employ bulbs of a shank length different from the shanklength of bulbs employed in other prior art indicator lamp assemblies.This means that in order to provide for all contingencies, the varioustruck service centers, as well as the truck operator, must carry asupply of all sizes of bulbs since it is possible that bulbs ofdiffering shank sizes will have to be replaced. Obviously, times occurwhen the particular size of bulb is not available and because of thereluctance of the operator to operate the truck without being assuredthat the particular related sensed condition is acceptable, addition"down-time" is created in order to properly inspect the relatedstructure.

Further, since non-energization of an indicator lamp assembly can occurfor reasons other than bulb failure, additional problems have beenexperienced with the prior art indicator lamp assemblies. That is, suchnon-energization can be the result of a failure within the bulb socketassembly or the electrical conductors leading from the socket assemblyto the related source of electrical potential. Because the prior artemployed various designs of socket assemblies and because a particulartruck instrument panel was effective to receive only one particulardesign of socket assembly it has heretofore been necessary that truckservice centers (often referred to as "truck stops") maintain a largeinventory in order to be able to provide whatever design of socketassembly may be required by any particular truck having that need.

The prior art indicator lamp assemblies have created additional problemsalso resulting in increased costs. For example, generally it is wellknown that for various reasons it is desirable to make the cab portion(that part of the truck providing space for the operator and associatedcontrols and instruments) as short in length as possible while stillproviding adequate space for the operator. Consequently, the space asbetween the instrument panel and, for example, the forward wall of thecab portion is kept at an absolute minimum with such space being filledwith as much related operating equipment, controls, linkages andelectrical conductors as in practicably possible.

Because of this compactness of construction of the cab it becomesdifficult not only to service, for example, the replacement of bulbswhich have failed in the indicator lamp assemblies but also in theactual construction of the cab by the truck builder. That is, almostexclusively the prior art indicator lamp assemblies are such as torequire the removal and replacement of the bulb from the rear orunderside of the instrument panel and, as already stated, such space isusually very limited.

Generally, the builders of trucks in their manufacturing procedures,more specifically, during assembly of the instrument panel and thesubsequent assembling of the completed instrument panel to the cab,require that the indicator lamp assemblies be first assembled to theinstrument panel, as to comprise a portion of the completed instrumentpanel before such completed instrument panel is assembled to the cab.This enables the instrument panel to be completed as at a station whichis not part of the final assembly of the vehicle.

According to the prior art, the lamp assemblies were thusly assembled.However, because such prior art lamp assemblies were, in the main,constructed of a body-like bulb socket with male type blade terminalscarried directly thereby, the assembly of the completed instrument panelonto the cab required the use of intermediate wire harness assemblieswhich would at one end plug into or onto the blade terminals of the lampassemblies and, at the other end, plug into terminal ends of vehicularwiring system which could take the form of a second wiring harness. Thismeant that not only was the final assembly doubly difficult because ofthe requirement that each lamp assembly had to have two electricalconnections made in order to complete a wiring system thereto, but alsothe fact that two such terminal sets were used for each lamp assemblydoubled the possibility of failure at such terminal points. Also,because of the very small space behind or below the instrument panel, itis difficult to assure that proper connections are made to the prior artsocket assembly because the terminals thereof are situated relativelyclosely to the rear or under surface of the instrument panel.

Other problems also exist with respect to the prior art. For example,prior art indicator lamp assemblies often have a lens which is screwedonto the body of the lamp assembly As is apparent, because of the threadlead, it becomes impossible to both tighten the lens onto the body andat the same time be assured that the lens will assume a particulardesired position so that any words (such as, for example, "HOT", "OIL","AIR") formed on such lens are easily readable by the operator. Withsuch prior art lamp assemblies, the lens would have to be tightened andthen the lamp body-like socket assembly would have to be turned orrotated until the lens was in a proper attitude at which point thesecuring means would be tightened. Such time-consuming operations didnot totally correct the problem because even after the lens andbody-like socket assembly are initially properly secured, the vibrationscaused during truck use and consequently experienced by the prior artlamp assembly usually results in the lens becoming loosened as well asthe body-like socket assembly rotating within its cooperating mountingaperture in the instrument panel. As is apparent, such vibrations causemisalignment of the prior art lenses.

Accordingly, the invention as herein disclosed and described isprimarily directed to the solution of the above as well as other relatedproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, an indicator lamp assembly comprises a lampassembly body, means formed on said body for enabling said body to bedetachably secured to associated support structure, said body having afirst open end for detachably receiving therein a portion of a lens,said body having a second open end for detachably receiving therein aportion of an associated bulb socket assembly, and passage means formedin said body between and interconnecting said first and second openends, said passage means being adapted to receive therein a portion of abulb operatively connected to and carried by said socket assembly.

Various general and specific objects and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent when reference is made to the following detaileddescription considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein for purposes of clarity certain details and/orelements may be omitted from one or more views:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an interior of a truck cabhaving an instrument panel employing indicator lamp assembliesconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in cross-section, taken generally onthe plane of line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of thearrows;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lens shown in both FIGS. 2 and 4taken generally on the plane of line 3--3 of FIG. 4 and looking thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the lens of FIG. 3 taken generallyon the plane of line 4--4 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of thearrows;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another typical socket assemblyemployable in practicing the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of still another typical socketassembly employable in practicing the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a shroud, employable in combinationwith the indicator lamp assembly of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged and elevational view taken generally on the planeof line 8--8 of FIG. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 9 is an axial cross-sectional view taken generally on the plane ofline 9--9 of FIG. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates theinterior of a truck cab 10 as being comprised of, for example, adriver's or operator's seat assembly 12, steering wheel and columnassembly 14, windshield 16, operator's foot actuated levers and pedals18, 20 and 22, and instrument panel 25 assembly 24 comprising apanel-like support and an array of gauges 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34,controls 36, 38 and a plurality of indicator lamp assemblies 40, 42, 44,46 and 48.

In FIG. 2, the indicator lamp assembly 40 is illustrated as beingcomprised of a main body or housing 50, lens 52, bulb socket assembly 54and cooperating bulb 56, all being secured to and carried as by panel orsupport 25 of the instrument panel assembly 24.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, body or housing 50 ispreferably generally tubular having a relatively large outer cylindricalsurface 51 terminating at the right end in a transverse, preferablynormal end abutment surface 53 and terminating at the left end in aflange-like or shoulder surface 55 formed as by a diametricallynecked-down portion 58. The left end of the body 50 has an externallythreaded portion 60 which generally extends from the necked-down portion58 and terminates at its left in a transverse, preferably normal, secondend abutment surface 62.

A first generally cylindrical clearance passageway 64, formed withinbody 50, terminates at its forward or left end in a first annularinclined or ramp surface 66 and, similarly, terminates at its rearwardor right end in a second annular inclined or ramp surface 68. As isevident from the drawings, both ramp means 66 and 68 are so formed as toincrease in effective diameter as such ramp means extend away fromclearance passageway 64.

The second or inner ramp means 68, as it generally radiates away frompassageway 64, terminates and/or blends into a second generallycylindrical clearance passageway 72, which, as illustrated terminates ina radially outwardly directed shoulder or wall portion 70 formed as by athird further enlarged clearance passageway 74.

As shown, clearance passageway 74, at its right or rearward end,terminates in a third generally radially inwardly directed annularinclined or ramp surface 76 which, at its radially innermost endterminates in a fourth clearance passageway 78. Similar to ramp surface66, a generally annular inclined or ramp surface 80 extends fromclearance passageway 78 generally radially outwardly until it terminatesin transverse end abutment surface 53.

The body or housing 82 of socket assembly 54 may be formed ofelectrically non-conductive plastic material with a suitable centrallylocated cylindrical recess formed therein, as is well known in the art,adapted to receive therein the male plug-in portion 84 of bulb assembly56. Also, as is well known in the art, the male plug-in portion 84 maybe of the bayonet lock type wherein a tab carried at the side of portion84 becomes locked against an electrically conductive member within thebulb-receiving recess while a spring loaded contact at the end of therecess engages the end of the portion 84 to thereby complete a circuitthrough and with the bulb 56. As is also well known in the art, theelectrically conductive member within the bulb-receiving recess may bephysically and electrically connected to a plurality of generallyannularly positioned detent-like resilient latching arms, three of whichare shown at 86, 88 and 90, each effectively secured to socket housingbody 82. The detent or latching arms, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, areelectrically conductive so that the grounding circuit can be affected asthrough body 50 and panel 25. As generally illustrated an elongated wireharness 92 (in the embodiment of FIG. 2 such harness comprising a singleelectrical conductor) is operatively electrically connected at its innerend to the spring loaded contact within body 82 while the other end ofharness 92 is provided with a suitable terminal contact 94 engageablewith related wiring of, for example, the truck cab 10.

As should be apparent, when socket assembly 54 is in a disconnectedstate from body 50 all that needs to be done to affect operativeconnection therebetween is to push the socket assembly 54 against therear or right open end of housing or body 50. In so doing, the forwardinclined portions of latching arms 86, 88 and 90 operatively engage rampsurface 80 and, upon continued applied force, latching arms 86, 88 and90 will resiliently deflect radially inwardly as to thereby pass throughclearance passageway 78. Once such arms 86, 88 and 90 pass throughclearance passageway the said latching arms, under their own inherentresilient force, move radially outwardly thereby causing the rearwardinclined portions of such latching arms to respectively engage the rampor annular locking surface 76. The dimensions and configurations of therespective cooperating elements is such as to preferably cause forwardend surface 96 of body 82 to be in abutting engagement with housing endsurface 53 prior to latching arms 86, 88 and 90 dissipating all of theinherent resilient force thereby assuring a sound latched engagement asbetween housing body 50 and socket assembly 54.

The lens 52, more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, is preferablyformed of high-impact resistant polycarbonate and, as will becomeevident, preferably formed as to be a reflex lens thereby causingradiation of light emitted by bulb 56 instead of merely a glow.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the main body 98 of lens 52 isgenerally cylindrical as to outer configuration having a forward closedend wall 100 and a rearward open end defined as by a cavity or chamber102 formed within such lens body. The wall of chamber 102 is formed asby a plurality of reflex type contoured surfaces 104 which serve tocause refraction of the light and thereby affect light radiation throughthe lens. The right end of lens body 98 terminates in an annularshoulder or flange-like surface 106 which, as shown in FIG. 2, whenassembled to housing 50 is in abutting engagement with end abutmentsurface 62 of such housing 50.

The lens means 52 is also provided with a plurality of integrally formedgenerally axially extending latching legs or portions 108 and 110 which,because of their material and configuration are able to exhibit a degreeof flexibility and attendant resilient resistance. As viewed in FIG. 4,such latching or detent legs 108 and 110 are arcuate segments and asbest seen in FIG. 3 the extreme free ends of such legs 108 and 110 areprovided with enlarged bead-like portions 112 and 114 extendinggenerally radially outwardly thereof.

When lens means 52 is in a detached state, all that needs to be done toassemble it to body 50, is to push the lens against the left or forwardopen end of housing 50 thereby causing detent arms 108 and 110 tosimultaneously engage ramp means 66 and resiliently deflect generallyradially inwardly until such latching arms 108 and 110 along with beadportions 112 and 114 pass through clearance passageway 64. Upon furthermovement of lens 52 toward housing 50, latching legs 108 and 110 will,because of inherent resilient force, move radially outwardly causing thebead portions 112 and 114 to engage and press radially outwardly againstthe inner latching or ramp surface 68. In the preferred embodiment, thedimensions and configurations of the respective cooperating elements aresuch as to preferably cause lens abutment surface 106 to be in abuttingengagement with housing forward end surface 62 prior to latching means108 and 110 dissipating all of the inherent resilient force; further, inthe preferred embodiment, it is desirable to have surfaces 62 and 106abutting and bead portions 112 and 114 firmly engaged with ramp means 68without having the radially outer surfaces 116 and 118 of legs 108 and110 in any way engaging the surface of clearance passageway 64. Thisserves to maximize the holding power of the bead portions 112 and 114with a resulting continual attendant axial force component urgingsurface 106 into engagement with surface 62.

As generally depicted in FIG. 1, the outer lens configuration may be ofany desired shape. For example, the lenses of indicator lamp assemblies40 and 44 are generally cylindrical, the lens of indicator lamp assembly42 is illustrated as being generally rectangular or parallelelpiped, thelens of indicator lamp assembly 46 is illustrated as being generallysquare or cubic, while the lens of indicator lamp assembly 48 isdepicted as being of generally spherical conformation. Further, asgenerally depicted by the word "OIL" on the lens of indicator lampassembly 42, the lens may have, as by, for example, hot stamping, anydesired legend formed thereon. Of course, all of the lenses, regardlessof outer configurations would be provided with suitable detent orlatching legs equivalent to legs 108 and 110.

As shown in FIG. 2, the entire assembly may be secured to the associatedsupport structure or panel 25 as by having threaded portion 60 passthrough mounting aperture 120 formed in panel 25 and then securinghousing wall 55 against panel 25 as by the threadably engaged nut 122and associated washer 124. If the lens then is one which carries alegend thereon, and such legend is not preperly aligned for easyreading, all that needs to be done to correct that is to grasp the lens52 and rotate it against the frictional resistance, of coacting surfaces62 and 106 as well as 112, 114 and 68 until the desired attitude isattained.

In view of the foregoing, it should be apparent that the inventionprovides an assembly whereby either long length bulbs 56 or relativelyshort length bulbs as at 56a can be equally accommodated therebyobviating the necessity of keeping in effect a double inventory ofbulbs. Further, with the invention no problems are encountered in tryingto align, to a desired attitude, the position of a legend carried by thelens.

The invention also enables, for example, the bulb 56 to be changed fromeither the front or the rear of the support or instrument panel 24. Ifremoval of the bulb is to be affected from the front, all that needs tobe done is to exert a slight oblique force against the lens and directedgenerally away from the body 50 thereby causing the lens 52 to becomedisengaged and exposing the bulb 56 for removal. If removal of the bulbis to be affected from the rear, all that needs to be done is tosimilarly exert a slight oblique force against the socket body 82 anddirected generally away from the body 50 thereby causing the socketassembly to become disengaged from body 50 while still retaining bulb 56in such socket assembly. The bulb can then be replaced in the socketassembly and such again latched to the body 50 as previously described.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate, not by way of limitation but rather by way offurther example, other socket assemblies employable in the invention.The structure of FIG. 5 is of plastic or other suitable electricallynon-conductive material. The main difference from the socket assembly 34of FIG. 2 is that socket assembly 130 has integrally formed electricallynon-conductive annularly situated detent or latching members 132, 134,136 and 138 (which function in the manner of latch means 86, 88 and 90)and a plurality of extending electrical conductors 140 and 142, withrespective terminal members 144 and 146, comprising the wiring harnessas to achieve, for example, a remote ground connection.

FIG. 6 illustrates a metal type socket assembly 150 having integrallyformed latching or detent means 152, 154, 156 and 158 (functioning inthe manner of means 86, 88 and 90) with a single electrical conductor160 extending therefrom and terminating in, for example, male terminal162. The ground connection, of course, can be effected through the latchmeans 152, 154, 156 and 158 as well as the contact between the plug-inportion of the associated bulb and the main body of assembly 150.

In another aspect, the invention contemplates the provision of a shroudto fit about the lens so as to: further beautify the light or lampassembly; prevent spurious light from falsely indicating apparentenergization of the shrouded lens; cover the fastening nut 122 to stillfurther enhance the aesthetic qualities of the lamp assembly; and, whereneeded, to provide for safety considerations relative to protrudingobjects.

In FIG. 7 a generally tubular shroud 170 is shown situated about lens 52and secured thereto as by an effective press or interference fit asbetween the diameter of inner annular surface 172 of shroud 170 and theouter diameter of lens 52. As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the outersurface 171 of the wall of the shroud 170 is preferably tapered as to begenerally frusto-conical while the continuation or extension 174 of thecylindrical surface 172 is similarly conical but oppositely directed asto have its widest portion near the forward to top end of the shroud tothereby enhance the cone of visibility for the operator.

Where safety considerations are dictated, it is preferred that theshroud be formed of, for example, a vinyl material in the order of a 75durometer reading, while where no such safety considerations arenecessary, the material may have a durometer reading in the order of,for example, 95-100.

Further, such shrouds may be molded from any suitable material as fromeither a rigid transparent plastic (possibly colored as red) to therebyincrease the apparent size of the indicator lamp lens and increase thevisual effect of the lamp assembly for the operator, or as from atotally opaque material as for complete shading of the lens as from sunlight. Also, if such be desired, it is of course possible that the innerportion of the right end of the shroud may be internally threaded as tothereby coact with the threaded portion 60 of the housing or body 50.

Even though it should be well apparent, in view of the disclosure,nevertheless it should possibly be mentioned that the invention providesfurther benefits over the prior art. For example, the housing 50 alsoserves as an adapter. That is it really, in addition to comprising alamp assembly, serves to adapt the coacting components andsub-assemblies to the particular associated mounting or support means.In this regard, it should also be pointed out that the provision of thethreaded portion 60 enables the entire assembly to be axially positionedwith respect to the mounting panel 25. That is, for example, it ispossible to provide a second nut, functionally equivalent to nut 122,generally behind the panel 25 and thereby, in cooperation with nut 122,both axially position and secure the lamp assembly 40 with respect topanel 25. Further, as should be evident, it is also possible to providesuitable shims or lock washers as between shoulder 55 and the rear sideof panel 25 to also axially adjust the relative position of the entireassembly 40 with regard to panel 25. This axial adjustment enables thelens 52 to attain a desired extent of projection from the panel 25.Also, in some mounting panels functionally equivalent to panel 25, athreaded aperture may be provided instead of aperture 120. Such threadedaperture would then threadably cooperate with threaded portion 60 tothereby secure the housing or adapter 50 to the mounting panel. Ofcourse, in such cases, a rearwardly situated nut and/or shims or lockwashers, as previously described, may also be employed. Such athreadable engagement between the lamp assembly and coacting mountingpanel is not attainable with the prior art structures.

Although only one preferred embodiment, along with certain modificationsof the invention, have been disclosed and described, it is apparent thatother embodiments and modifications of the invention are possible withinthe scope of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A lens for detachable connection to associated supportstructure, comprising a lens main body portion at least a major portionof which is comprised of at least translucent material, said main bodyportion comprising a generally relatively forwardly disposed first endand a generally relatively rearwardly disposed second end, a recess-likecavity formed in said main body portion, said cavity having an endopening in said second end, said second end comprising generallylaterally extending first mounting abutment surface means, and at leastfirst and second leg-like members integrally formed with said main bodyportion and extending from said second end in a direction generallynormal to said first mounting abutment surface means, said leg-likemembers being resiliently deflectable with respect to said main bodyportion and spaced from each other, said first and second leg-likemembers respectively having first and second free ends resilientlydeflectable generally towards and away from each other, said first freeend having a first portion formed thereon of relatively enlargedcross-sectional thickness, said second free end having a second portionthereon of relatively enlarged cross-sectional thickness, said first andsecond enlarged portions being effective to engage first surface meansof said associated support structure in order to thereby detachably holdsaid first mounting abutment surface means operatively engaged againstjuxtaposed second surface means of said associated support structure,said cavity comprising cavity-defining surface means situated generallyinternally of said main body portion, said cavity-defining surface meansbeing of a generally cylindrical configuration when viewed in a planegenerally parallel to said first mounting abutment surface means, andsaid cavity-defining surface means comprising a plurality of generallyconvoluted surface segments extending generally from said second end andtoward said first end.
 2. A lens according to claim 1 wherein each ofsaid convoluted surface segments is of a generally arcuate configurationwhen viewed in a plane generally parallel to said first mountingabutment surface means.
 3. A lens according to claim 1 wherein the endof said cavity-defining surface means nearest said first end definesgenerally a convex spherical sector.
 4. A lens according to claim 1wherein said first and second leg-like members are situated as to begenerally laterally outwardly of said cavity and positioned as to begenerally diametrically opposed to each other.
 5. A lens according toclaim 1 wherein said first and second leg-like members are each of anarcuate configuration when viewed in a plane generally parallel to saidfirst mounting abutment surface means.
 6. A lens according to claim 1wherein said lens main body portion comprises an outer surface ofcylindrical configuration.
 7. A lens according to claim 1 wherein saidlens main body portion comprises an outer surface of cylindricalconfiguration, and wherein said forwardly disposed first end comprisesan outer generally flat planar surface generally normal to said outersurface of cylindrical configuration.
 8. A lens according to claim 1wherein said cavity-defining surface means also comprises a generallyspherical-like extension of said generally cylindrical configurationwith said extension being directed towards said first end of said mainbody portion.
 9. A lens according to claim 8 wherein said plurality ofgenerally convoluted surface segments extend along said spherical-likeextension.
 10. A lens according to claim 2 wherein the radii ofcurvature for said convoluted surface segments are situated generallyradially outwardly of said cavity-defining surface means.
 11. A lensaccording to claim 1 wherein the end of said cavity-defining surfacemeans nearest said first end comprises a generally smooth surface whichis generally transverse to and devoid of said convoluted surfacesegments.